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FOREST TRAILS 
AND HIGHWAYS 



OP THE 



MOUNT MOOD 
REGION 




OREGON 
NATIONAL FOREST 

OREGON 

)lniteol States Department 

Contribution oP the 

Forest? Service 

William c3,Creeleiprl<)rescer 



Cencgrajpb, 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR 105 



Contribution from the Forest Service 
WILLIAM B. GREELEY, Forester 



NOV 1 7 1933 



■ 



- 



Forest Trails and Highways of the Mount Hood Region 




On the mountain roads near the summit of the Cascades 



Automobile Highways Through the Scenic Mountain Regions of Northwestern Oregon. 



IN the Mount Hood region, a few miles from 
Portland, the traveler finds himself in outdoor 
surroundings of that primitive and youthful 
freshness which inspired Bryant to write of 
"* * * the continuous woods, where rolls the 
Oregon and hears no sound save his own dash- 
ings." The wild natural beauty of the Columbia 
River Gorge, so largely untouched, brings to 
mind the spirit of the days when the great river 
indeed knew no sound save the shouts of Indians 
and the songs of the voyageurs. Not so very 
many years ago this entire region was a vast and 
unbroken wilderness; and to-day the autoist 
speeds past rapids and portages as picturesque 
now as in the days when they were toilsomely 
negotiated by the pioneers. 

The two principal routes of automobile travel 
in the Mount Hood region are the Columbia River 
highway and the Mount Hood loop road. The 
Columbia River highway follows the south bank 
of the river through the famous Columbia River 



Gorge, which has made the highway one of the 
most beautiful mountain drives in the world. In 
addition, the highway is one of the best hard- 
surfaced automobile roads ever built, extending 
eastward from Portland toward Hood River for 
66 miles. The hard-surfaced portion is practi- 
cally completed now as far as Hood River and is 
being pushed steadily eastward. 

Leaving Portland over the Mount Hood loop 
road, the tourist soon passes the outskirts of the 
city and the valley farm lands to climb over 
mountain roads to the summit of the Cascade 
Range, a few miles south of the pinnacle of Mount 
Hood. Until 1846 the only entry into the Oregon 
country was by sea or through the Columbia 
River Gorge. In 1846 what is now called the old 
Barlow road was opened across the Cascade 
Mountains, and the general route of this old road 
is followed by the Mount Hood loop road. The 
Barlow road was originally a toll road, but since 
1919 it has been open for travel without toll. 



(i) 



The drive along the Sandy and Zig Zag River 
roads on the Mount Hood loop route is certain to 
be enjoyed by every lover of the out-of-doors. 
The country traversed is ever-changing in char- 
acter and interest, from the low valley farms 
near Portland to the alpine meadow lands and 
forest parks of the Cascade summit. There is 
fishing in the streams, and delightful forest camp 
grounds are found along the way. Several 
mountain resorts are reached over this road. 
Government Camp, near the summit of the Cas- 
cases, is the usual starting point for the south 
side climbs of Mount Hood. 

A pleasing side trip on the Mount Hood loop 
road is to follow the north bank of the Sandy 
River over the Devil's Backbone, passing the 
Marmot post office and the Aschoff Mountain 
Home and crossing the Sandy River about 2 
miles below Brightwood, returning to the Mount 
Hood loop road along the south bank of the 
Sandy River. To make this side trip, turn to the 
left less than half a mile beyond the town of 
Sandy, going to Bull Run. 

The Mount Hood loop road is hard surfaced 
from Portland as far as Gresham. From Gresham 
to the Multnomah County line there is first-class 
macadam road; from the county line to Sandy 
the road surface is good hard gravel. South and 
east of Sandy the route is over plank and dirt 
roads. Automobiles can cross the Cascade Moun- 
tains during the summer months going to Wapin- 
itia. The trip, however, calls for careful and ex- 
pert driving. Government Camp is the usual 
limit of automobile travel on the west side of the 
Cascades. Autoists with camping outfits can go 
as far as Frog Lake and Clear Lake on the summit 
of the Cascade Range. 

From Hood River, on the Columbia River 
highway, south through the Hood River Valley 
toward Mount Hood, the tourist leaves the high- 
way and travels over county roads connecting 
Hood River, Tucker's Bridge, Odell, Middle Val- 




(2) 



A mountain stream on the Columbia River highway 




USGE 



Witching Multnomah Falls seen from Columbia River highway 



ley Mill, Mount Hood post office, Woodworth, 
Parkdale, Mount Hood Lodge, and Cloud Cap 
Inn. Some automobiles go as far south as Tilly 
Jane Creek and Sand Canyon, several miles south 
of Mount Hood Lodge. These points are the 
limit for automobile travel in the Hood River 
Valley. The drives south to Mount Hood Lodge, 
Cloud Cap Inn, and to the head of automobile 
travel in the Hood River Valley are rich in points 
of interest. Mount Hood as seen from the high- 
ways in the upper Hood River Valley is a spectacle 
of supreme and commanding scenic interest, ris- 
ing here, as nowhere else, high above every other 
feature. During the summer season automobiles 
easily negotiate the grade to Cloud Cap Inn, 
within less than 3 miles of the summit of Mount 
Hood, at an elevation of 5,985 feet above the sea. 
Mount Hood, with an elevation of 11,225 f eet 
above sea level, is more than half climbed at 
Cloud Cap Inn, which is the starting point for the 
north side climbs of the mountain. 

A new Forest Service road is being built to 
Lost Lake from Dee in the Hood River Valley, 
and will be open for travel during the season of 
1920. This route from Hood River to Lost Lake 
connects Hood River, Tucker's Bridge, Bloucher, 
Winans, and Dee; thence it follows the West 
Fork and the Lake Fork to Lost Lake. The 
drive from Hood River is now bang made to a 
point near Cedar Springs. Here the cars are 
parked in the woods, and the remainder of the 
trip is made on foot over forest trails. Inviting 
forest camp grounds appeal to the autoist along 
the way to Lost Lake. The lake itself is one of 
the beauty spots of the Mount Hood region. 
Free public camp grounds are provided by the 
Forest Service, and camping for the automo- 
bilist is made easy, comfortable, and safe. 

Sand Canyon, south of Mount Hood Lodge, 
at the head of automobile travel in the upper 
Hood River Valley, is the starting point of forest 
trails which go east, south, and west. The Elk 
Meadows and Lookout Mountain trails are per- 



(3) 




High on the mountain top overlooking the Mount Hood region 



haps the most interesting and beautiful forest trails 
in the Mount Hood region. The proposed Mount 
Hood loop road, now under construction from the 
west side of Mount Hood, will follow the south- 
eastern slopes of Mount Hood over the country now 
traversed by these trails, and so in time the tour 
of the mountain can be made in automobiles. 

The map accompanying this folder shows the 
important highways and mountain roads acces- 
sible to automobile travel in the Mount Hood 
region. Great as may be the pleasure of touring 
over the automobile highways of the Mount 



Hood region, however, the chief charm lies 
more often in the swift flight from the crowded 
city streets to the places where the forest trails 
begin. The traveler will miss a large part of 
the joy if he fails to leave his automobile for a 
while and go adventuring on one of these trails. 

Trails of the Mount Hood Region. 

Tramping over forest trails may be a new and 
novel experience for many, but these forest 
walks afford most wholesome pleasure and are 
safe adventures for everyone willing to learn the 



(4) 



simple lessons of good woodsmanship. Timid 
ones will be amply rewarded if they venture but 
a few miles to glimpse a view of some waterfall 
hidden in a narrow cleft of the mountains and 
surrounded by forest; others, more bold, will fol- 
low the trails to the mountain top, where, with 
vision unobstructed, the eye can sweep a vast 
horizon of snowclad peaks and forested hills. 

Charming spots in the forest, carpeted with 
moss and fern and roofed overhead with canopies 
of trees, provide camping grounds for the wan- 
derer on the forest trails, where the peace of the 
woods is enhanced perhaps by the cheerful notes 
of a wren whose mate is nesting under a log 
close by. At night the hooting of an owl may 
boom over tree tops and hills in weird notes 
which startle the camper, but the murmuring 
water soon lulls him to sleep again. The sound of 
the waters is seldom lost, by night or day; for the 
trails seek the natural pathway cut by the streams. 

The Larch Mountain Trail. 

The Larch Mountain trail, the most popular 
forest trail in the Mount Hood region, begins on 
the Columbia River highway at the base of Mult- 
nomah Falls. Its prominent features are Mult- 
nomah Falls, Upper Multnomah Falls, views of 
the Columbia River from the canyon bluffs, and 
views of Mount Hood and the surrounding moun- 
tain country from the summit crag of Larch 
Mountain. The summit of the mountain is 
slightly over 6 miles from Multnomah Falls sta- 
tion. The ascent is gradual, over good trails the 
entire distance. The elevation of Larch Mountain 
is 4,050 feet. 

The Daylight Climb. 

Take the 7.30 a. m. Oregon-Washington Rail- 
road & Navigation Co. train from Portland 
Union Station for Multnomah Falls. Go up the 
trail and over Benson Bridge, from which there 
is a good view of Multnomah Falls. After pass- 



ing the bridge the trail to the summit of the river 
bluffs leads to points giving interesting views of 
the Columbia River. Leaving the bluffs, the 
trail turns back to Multnomah Creek, above the 
falls near the i-mile board. 

Near the 1^2 -mile board are two upper falls, 
each about 80 feet high. At about 1^ miles the 
Wahkeena trail turns right, going 4 miles westerly 
to Wahkeena Falls and to the Columbia River 
highway. The Larch Mountain trail goes left, 
follows Multnomah Creek, and ascends. 

AX. 2 $4 miles cross the Palmer mountain road. 
Care must be taken to distinguish the trail from 
the road. Keep to the trail on the right. A 
sign points to the trail. Last drinking water is 
near the 5-mile board. There is no water at the 
.summit of the mountain. The summit of Larch 
Mountain is a short distance beyond the 6-mile 
board. The best views are from the Forest Ser- 
vice fire-lookout tower and from Summit Crag. 




On the Larch Mountain trail 



(5) 




Beautiful Mouut Hood from the slopes of Larch Mountain 

Returning to Columbia River highway, turn left 
near the 2 -mile board, going over the Wahkeena 
trail to Wahkeena Falls, from which Columbia 
River highway automobile stages run to Portland. 

The walk both ways is about 15 miles. It is a 
shorter walk (about 13 miles) returning over the 
same route taken going out, arriving at Multnomah 
Falls Station in time to take the Oregon- Wash- 
ington Railroad & Navigation Co. 4.27 p. m. 
train returning to Portland. 

The Night Climb. 

Leave Portland Union Station on the 5.30 
p. m. Oregon- Washington Railroad & Navigation 
Co. train for Multnomah Falls. Ascend trail to 
camp grounds near the spring close to the 5-mile 
board. Camp for the night at the spring. A 
.feature of the night climb is that it enables one 



to enjoy the beautiful sunrise views of Mount 
Hood. The walk on the return trip is 9 miles by 
way of Wahkeena Falls or 7 miles by way of 
Multnomah Falls station. 

The night climb is recommended for all those 
who enjoy sleeping outdoors for one night, and 
for those who do not. wish to walk more than 8 or 
9 miles in one day. The night trip can also be 
made by leaving Portland on the 11 p. m. 
Oregon- Washington Railroad & Navigation train, 
arriving at Multnomah Falls near midnight, 
and climbing to the spring in time for an early 
breakfast; then proceeding to the summit before 
sunrise. This schedule is very popular with 
Portland outing clubs. 

The Wauna Point Trail. 

The Wauna Point Trail is a short trail leading 
to a high commanding point of view about 5% 
miles from the Columbia River highway, over- 
looking the Columbia River. This trail is ac- 
cessible to the popular Eagle Creek camp grounds, 
and is a trip very conveniently taken by automo- 
bile campers at Fagle Creek or from Bonneville 
by those who leave Portland by train. The 
round trip walk is about 12 miles. 

Schedule of Trip. 

Leave Portland Union Station on the 7.30 a. m. 
Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation 
train for Bonneville. Detrain and visit the 
Oregon State fish hatchery. Leaving the fish 
hatchery, walk over the Columbia River highway 
to the beginning of the Wauna Point trail and 
climb through very pleasant woods to the summit 
of the Columbia River bluffs on Wauna Point, 
elevation about 2,200 feet. Wauna Point over- 
looks the Columbia River and Fagle Creek. 
Returning, descend to the Columbia River high- 
way and go to Fagle Creek camp grounds. There 
take the 4 p. m. automobile stage over the 
Columbia River highway to Portland, or the 
4 p. m. Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navi- 



(6) 



gation train returning to Portland from the 
Eagle Creek flag station. 

There is a Forest Service registering booth on 
the summit of Wauna Point. Visitors are re- 
quested to register their names. The last drink- 
ing water is near the 5-mile board. This is the 
best short trail trip from Bonneville and the 
Eagle Creek camp grounds. 

The Eagle Creek and Herman Creek Trail. 

The Eagle Creek trail is one of the costliest 
and best mountain trails in the West. Eor 
thousands of feet it has been cut through solid 
rock, and in one place goes behind a waterfall 
through a tunnel cut into the mountain. The trip 
to Wahtum Lake over the Eagle Creek trail, re- 
turning over the Herman Creek trail, requires two 
days' time. The distance to Wahtum Lake over 
the Eagle Creek trail is 13K miles. Returning 
to the Columbia River highway over the Herman 
Creek trail the distance is 11 miles. 

Schedule of Trip. 

Take the 7.30 a.m. Oregon- Washington Railroad 
& Navigation train from Portland Union Station 
for Eagle Creek. The conductor must be requested 
to stop the train at Eagle Creek flag station. 

Erom Eagle Creek station follow the trail to 
the Columbia River highway and Eagle Creek 
camp grounds. Ascend the trail on the left 
bank of Eagle Creek. 

Points of interest on the Eagle Creek trail are 
Metlako Falls, 2 miles; Punchbowl Falls, 2% 
miles; High Bridge and Canyon, 3^2 miles; and 
Tunnel Falls, 6}4 miles. Walk to Camp Shelters, 
4^ miles, where noon lunch may be eaten. The 
.distance from this point to Wahtum Lake is 9 
miles. 

Arrival at Wahtum Lake will be early in the 
evening. Meals can sometimes be obtained at 
the Wahtum Lake Boy Scout lodge. Camp for 
the night on free Forest Service camp grounds 
and in Forest Service camp shelters on the south 

183354°— 20 2 



shore of the lake. To return to the Columbia 
River highway, go east and north around the 
shores of Wathum Lake over the Herman Creek 
trail, which begins near the camp shelters at 
Wahtum Lake. The distance to the highway 
over this route is slightly less than the distance 
over the Eagle Creek trail. The Herman Creek 
trail goes to the Herman Creek Ranger Station 
on the Columbia River highway, where the 3.30 
p. m. automobile stages over the highway can be 
taken to Portland, or one may walk to Cascade 
Locks and return to Portland on the 3.50 p. m. 
Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation train. 
Wahtum Lake is a beautiful small body of 
water, about half a mile long and not quite so 
wide, surrounded entirely by forested slopes 
untouched by forest fires. Excellent trails go 




Looking toward Wauna Point on the Eagle Creek trail 



(7) 



entirely around the lake and reach all of the 
most interesting points of view. One trail 
climbs almost to the summit of Mount Chinidere, 
near the lake, going to the base of the cliffs 
within a few hundred feet of the summit. 
Another trail goes south 4 miles to Indian Moun- 
tain, where there is a Forest Service fire lookout 
station. The lake is a deep mountain lake fed 
entirely by springs. It has been stocked with 
eastern brook trout, and fair catches are made. 
The Portland Boy Scouts of America have built 
a large log-cabin lodge at Wahtum Lake and 
establish a summer camp there each season. 

The best observation points are Mount Chin- 
idere and Indian Mountain. Five snow-clad 
peaks are visible from Mount Chinidere — Mount 
Rainier, Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens, 
Mount Hood, and Mount Jefferson. In many 




respects, particularly to the north of the Colum- 
bia River, the view from Mount Chinidere is 
better than that from Indian Mountain, even 
though the latter peak is slightly higher in 
elevation. There are many interesting points of 
view on the way tc Indian Mountain along the 
ridge-line trail leading to the fire-lookout station 
on the summit. The view from the summit of 
Indian Mountain itself is one that has commended 
its use as a fire-lookout point by the Forest 
Service. An observer is stationed here all 
summer, ever on the lookout for the telltale 
smoke which indicates a forest fire. Visitors to 
the lookout station are always welcome, and the 
observer will gladly furnish information of the 
country seen from the station tower. 

Table of distances by shortest route between points. Oregon 
National Forest (see map). 



From — To 


Port- 
land. 


Esta- 
cada. 


Hood 
River. 


Gov- 
ern- 
ment 
Camp. 


Wapi- 
nitia. 


Park- 
dale. 


Cas- 
cade 
Locks. 


Austin Hot Springs 

Brooks Meadow 

Bull Run 


Miles. 
71 

25 

46 

60 

75 

67 

96 
105 
luO 

35 

44 

14 

55 

66 

62 

91 
39 
32 
63 
91 
32 
16 
86 

46 
25 
49 

45 
90 
120 
58 
90 
43 


Miles. 
38 

57 

62 

54 

21 
42 

77 

50 

50 

43 
20 

35 

12 
18 

87 
67 

42 
30 


Miles. 
29 
20 

31 
39 
34 
77 
23 
56 
47 

36 
25 
41 

36 
25 
34 
52 

66 

66 

24 

54 

69 


Miles. 
44 

20 

12 
13 
68 
12 
42 

ii 

47 
29 

'8 
22 

87 

55 

30 

29 

80 
50 

38 
15 


Miles. 
53 

89 

33 
28 

30 

80 
89 

79 
38 
69 

30 

43 

90 

65 
54 

45 
15 

50 


Miles. 
16 
40 
47 

ii 
59 

14 

97 
43 

76 
27 
20 

23 
20 

16 

5 
54 

86 
44 


M 


iles. 


Chinidere Mountain . 
Clackamas Lake. . . . 

Dufur 






7 


Eagle Creek Camps. . 


3 
36 


Government Camp. . . 

Indian Mountain. . . . 
Lookout Mountain. . . 


20 






Mount Hood Summit. 
Mount Hood Lodge. . 
Multnomah Falls 


56 
45 
14 


Portland 


46 
46 


Squaw Mountain. . . . 

Still Creek and Zig 

Zag Summer Home 




The Dalles 

Welches 


44 
74 

14 









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(8) 






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183054°— 20. (To face page 9.) 








Log of the Eagle Greek Trail 




Miles. 



Features of ike trail. 



o.o The Eagle Creek camp grounds. Entrance to the 
camp grounds is on the Columbia River highway 
east of the Eagle Creek Bridge. On right hand 
macadam road, follow Eagle Creek. Automobile 
parking area of left; public-comfort station east 
of parking area. 

o.i On macadam road, descend to banks of Eagle Creek. 
Picnic tables, spring water, camp-fire cooking 
places, and free firewood are on the right of road 
beneath alder trees along Eagle Creek. Foot- 
bridge turns right across Eagle Creek to camp 
grounds on opposite banks. Forest Service reg- 
istering booth is near the footbridge on the right 
of road. 

PLEASE REGISTER HERE. 

0.2 On macadam road, through park of large fir trees on 
the banks of Eagle Creek. Picnic tables, spring 
water, camp-fire cooking places, and free fire- 
wood along road under trees. Road turns left 
returning to exit of camp grounds on Columbia 
River highway. Beginning of Eagle Creek 
Trail at turn of road. Follow trail along banks 
of Eagle Creek. A sign on left of trail reads: 

METLAKO FALLS 2 miles. 

PUNCHBOWL FALLS 2K miles. 

HIGH BRIDGE 4 miles. 

EAGLE GREEK TUNNEL... 6X miles. 

WAHTUM LAKE 12 miles. 

INDIAN MOUNTAIN 15 miles. 

0.4 Log jam on right of trail in Eagle Creek. Water- 
supply main of the Eagle Creek camp grounds 
crosses Eagle Creek below the log jam. Public- 
comfort station on left of trail, a short distance 
beyond log jam, in grove of alders and maples. 
Picnic tables, camp-fire cooking places, and 
spring water along trail among alders, firs, and 
maples. 



Miles. Features of the trail. 

0.5. Mile board on right of trail reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, % MILE. 

End of camp grounds. Trail follows open hill- 
side along high cliffs and begins gradual ascent. 
Eagle Creek on right. 
0.6. Small camp site is on island to right. Cross over to 
camp site on rocks in creek bed. Trail leaves 
open hillside, turning left into pleasant timber. 

1.0. Mile board on right reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 1 MILE. 

Trail continues through fir forest. 

1.1. Small spring on left of trail. Drinking water trickles 

into cavity in rocks. Beyond spring trail goes 
around rocky point and approaches high basalt 
cliffs. Trail ascends face of cliffs, cut into solid 
rocks. Iron hand rails attached to rocks. 
1.3. End of ascent along cliffs. View of Eagle Creek 
gorge lava flows and cliffs. Creek flows into 
Eagle Creek on right. 

1.5. Mile board on right reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, iX MILES. 

The Devil's Stairway to Eagle Creek descends 
through narrow cleft in rocks on right. 

1.6. Trail skirts summit of high cliffs 300 feet above 

Eagle Creek. Iron rails attached to rocks. 
Open views of Eagle Creek Gorge and Summit of 
ridge west of Eagle Creek. 

2.0. Short distance before 2 miles a sign board on right 
reads: 

METLAKO FALLS. 

Short foot trail turns right in direction of sign 
board to view point of Metlako Falls, height 108 
feet. Spring to left of view point trail in rocks. 
Short distance beyond view point trail a mile 
board reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 2 MILES. 



(9) 



Miles. Features of the trail. 

2.2. Trail goes left and crosses creek. Drinking water. 

2.5. A mile board reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 2X MILES. 

Punchbowl Falls. A signboard reads: 
HIGHBRIDGE, i}4 MILES. 
EAGLE CREEK TUNNEL, 4 MILES. 

Foot trail turns right to views of Punchbowl Falls 
and down into gorge below the Punchbowl. 

2.6. Trail crosses creek on short log bridge. Falls below 

bridge. Camp and lunch site on left of trail at 
bridge. Build camp fires and burn lunch refuse 
in rock fireplace provided. Foot trail turns right 
near bridge to view point above Punchbowl Falls 
and to camp sites on Eagle Creek above the falls. 

2.7. Trail crosses open rock slide. 

2.9. Through open brushy timber on rocky hillside enter- 
ing parklike timber. 

3.0. Mile board reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 3 MILES. 

Trail goes along summit of high cliffs. 

3.1. Trail enters narrow canyon of creek on left. Crosses 

a narrow rock gorge over a high log bridge sup- 
ported by one log pillar. 

3.3. Trail crosses a rock slide — "The Singing Stones." 
3.5. A mile board reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 3 K MILES. 

3.7. A beautiful small waterfall is seen on opposite banks 

of Eagle Creek. 

3.8. Trail enters a deep rocky gorge clinging to the face of 

a high perpendicular rock cliff, on the edge of a 
cleft in the rocks, less than 25 feet wide and 125 
feet deep. Eagle Creek below. A spring and 
drinking water is on right of trail near high log 
bridge crossing the chasm. Trail goes over bridge. 

3.0. Trail continues through fir timber on right bank of 
Eagle Creek with views of High Bridge and Eagle 
Creek gorge. 

4.0. Mile board on right reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 4 MILES. 
Rainbow Falls on left. 



Miles. Features of the trail. 

4.3. Sheltered hollow in Eagle Creek gorge. Free public 

camping grounds on left after crossing bridge. 
Creek and falls on left. 

4.4. Trail leaves camp grounds and follows face of rock 

cliffs into the Eagle Creek burn. Forest shows 
marked signs of destruction by forest fire. Creek 
flows into Eagle Creek on right . 

4.5. Mile board on right reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, A y 2 MILES. 

4.6. Creek flows into Eagle Creek on right. 
5.0. Mile board reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 5 MILES. 

5.3. Trail crosses small stream over bridge. High water- 
fall above trail on left. 
5.5. Mile board on right reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 5% MILES. 

Trail passes through open valley with free views of 
the surrounding ridges. 

5.7. Small creek flows into Eagle Creek on right. 
5.0. Small creek flows into Eagle Creek on right. 

6.0. Mile board reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 6 MILES. 

6.1. Trail crosses a long rock slide. High cliffs and steep 

mountain sides on both sides of Eagle Creek. 

6.2. Trail passes underneath high rock cliffs. Water- 

falls on right. Trail is cut through massive 
columnar basalt, a volcanic lava-rock formation 
of prismatic columns. Trail now enters a rocky 
narrows with three high waterfalls. 

6.3. Approaching Eagle Creek Tunnel. The trail is cut 
into the perpendicular rock wall of the cliff and 
goes behind a high waterfall through a tunnel cut 
into solid rock. 

6.5. Mile board reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, (s% MILES. 

Trail follows high rock cliffs and ascends to summit 
of waterfalls on Eagle Creek. The valley of 
Eagle Creek widens and opens above the falls. 

6.8. Trail skirts rock cliff. Waterfalls on right. 

7.0. Mile board reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 7 MILES. 



(10) 



Miles. Features of the trail. 

7.4. Two camp shelters on banks of Eagle Creek, in open 

burn. Trail crosses two small streams beyond 
camp shelters. 

7.5. Mile board reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 1% MILES. 

7.9. Trail turns left and leaves Eagle Creek, ascending 
mountain toward Wahtum Lake. 

8.0. Mile board reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 8 MILES. 

8.2. Small stream crosses trail. 

8.5. Mile board reads : 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 8,'< MILES. 

8.6. Small stream crosses trail shaded by small grove of 

alder trees. Trail ascends open burned-over 
mountain side, 
g.o. Mile board reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 9 MILES. 

9.5. Mile board reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 9X MILES. 

9.6. Trail turns right around a high observation point 

with excellent views of Eagle Creek Valley and 
surrounding mountains. 

9.7. Trail enters green forest. 

10.0. Mile board in green timber reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 10 MILES. 

10.2. Trail winds through pleasant timbered ravine. Two 

small streams cross trail. Drinking water. 
10.5. Mile board reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 10/ i MILES. 

11. o. Mile board reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 11 MILES. 

1 1. 3. Trail crosses small stream in a narrow timbered 

ravine. 
1 1. 5. Mile board reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 11X MILES. 



Miles. Features of the trail. 

11. 7. Two small streams cross trail. Trail goes through 
open timber on rocky mountain sides. 

12.0. Mile board reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 12 MILES. 

12. 1. Trail enters beautiful forest grove after crossing 

mountain stream on bridge. Two camp shelters 
and free public camp grounds on left of trail. 
12.5. Mile board reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 12X MILES. 

13.0. Mile board reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 13 MILES. 

13.3. A trail turns left, crossing outlet of Wahtum Lake 
and goes to Camp Chinidere and Boy Scout Lodge 
and the shores of Wahtum Lake. Trail to 
Wahtum Lake goes right through virgin forest. 
The lake is visible on left. 

13.5. Mile board reads: 

COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, 13X MILES. 
Signboard reads: 

HERMAN CREEK TRAIL (East). 
EAGLE CREEK TRAIL (West). 

Two camp shelters and a free public camp grounds 
on right of trail. A trail turns right to Indian 
Mountain and Lost Lake between the camp 
shelters. 

13.7. The old Herman Creek trail turns right going to sum- 
mit of ridge. New trail goes left around shores of 
Wahtum Lake, ascending slopes to Chinidere 
Mountain . 

14.9. New Herman Creek trail turns right. Trail to Mount 
Chinidere and Benson Flat goes left. 

15.3. Trail ascends to edge of timber on rock slide on 
south slopes of Mount Chinidere . Leave trail and 
ascend right rocky slopes to climb Mount Chini- 
dere. Climb to summit about 5 minutes. Moun- 
tain peaks visible from summit of Mount Chini- 
dere: Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Mount 
Adams, Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier; lesser 
peaks, Indian Mount, Mount Defiance, Larch 
Mount. 



(U) 



A forest trail on the shores of Wahtum Lake 



Wahtum Lake 



Boy Scout lodge and camp at Wahtum Lake 



The Lost Lake Trail. 

Lost Lake, reached over the Dee-Lost Lake 
trail, is the most beautiful mountain lake in the 
Mount Hood region, and is visited every year by 
hundreds of people. The lake is famous for the 
views of Mount Hood which are obtained from 
the northwest shores. The water is crystal clear- 
fed in part by springs and in part by small streams 
which spring from the surrounding hillsides. 
The chief attractions are fishing, swimming, and 
forest walks around the lake and over the sur- 
rounding forest trails. The lake has been stocked 
with trout, and fishing is good. The water warms 
considerably during the summer months, and 
since no glacial streams or snow water flow into 
the lake the summer temperature of its waters is 
admirably adapted to swimming and water sports. 
Many local residents from Hood River Valley visit 
Lost Lake every summer during the berry season 
to pick the huckleberries which grow on the 
neighboring mountains. A forest ranger is sta- 
tioned at the lake during the summer months. 



Schedule of the Trip. 

Leave Portland Union Station on the 7.30 a. m. 
Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation train 
to Hood River; change to the Mount Hood Rail- 
way stage to Dee. From Dee the walk to the 
lake is about 14 miles. Good camp grounds are 
situated about 7 miles from Dee on the Dee-Lost 
Lake road. Vigorous hikers will make the trip 
to Lost Lake the same day. Automobile trans- 
portation may be secured for the trip from Dee 
to Cedar Springs, within 4 miles of the lake. The 
best camp grounds on the shores of the lake are 
found near the north and east end of the lake, 
where the trail comes down to the water's edge. 
The cabin of the forest ranger can be seen in a 
southwesterly direction across the lake. A foot 
trail goes west around the north and west shores 
to the cabin. 

For the return trip the railway stages over the 
Mount Hood Railway leave Dee for Hood River 
daily at 1 p. m. Good walkers can make the 
entire distance in the morning; others may have 




Forest ranger's cabin on Lost Lake 



Boating on Lost Lake 



to camp out along the trail. Another return route 
is over forest trails to Wahtum Lake and then over 
the Eagle Creek or the Herman Creek trail to 
the Columbia River highway. This route should 
only be attempted by the most vigorous and 
hardy walkers. The distance to Wahtum Lake 
from Lost Lake is about 1 2 miles ; to the highway 
it is about 25 miles. 

The Elk Meadows and Lookout Mountain 
Trail. 

One of the most scenic mountain trails of the 
region is that to Elk Meadows and Lookout 
Mountain. At least three days (preferably four) 
are required to make this journey from Portland. 
Elk Meadows, within sight of the glaciers, is one 
of the most beautiful mountain-meadow camp 
grounds on the slopes of Mount Hood, while 
Lookout Mountain is one of the best view points 
in the State of Oregon, commanding a view of 10 
snow-clad peaks of the Cascade Range — Mount 
Rainier, Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens, Mount 
Hood, Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington, 
Three Fingered Jack, and the Three Sisters. 

Schedule of Four-day Trip. 

Leave Portland Union Station on the 7.30 a. m. 
Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation train 
for Hood River. Take the Mount Hood Railway 
to Parkdale, or automobile stages to Mount Hood 
lodge. Go to Sand Canyon in a light automobile 
hired for the occasion. The distance from Sand 
Canyon to Elk Meadows is about 7 miles by trail. 
Camp at Elk Meadows the first night. From Elk 
Meadows go south over a good trail to Bennett 
Pass, about 7 miles; thence east and north over 
ridge-line trails to High Prairie on Lookout 
Mountain, about 8 miles. Camp at High Prairie 
the second night. The elevation of Lookout 
Mountain is 6,540 feet. High Prairie is about 300 
feet lower. A feature of this trail trip is an early 



morning climb to the summit of Lookout Moun- 
tain to obtain sunrise views of the Cascade Range 
and eastern Oregon. 

Returning from Lookout Mountain, go over 
trails to Brooks Meadows, following the summit 
of the mountain ridge; thence along the ridge to 
Rim Rock and Long Prairie. Camp there for the 
night, or descend westerly over trail to Mount 
Hood post office, 7 miles, and stay overnight at 
Everson's Ranch. In the morning, walk to 
Woodworth, take the Mount Hood Railway 
morning train to Hood River, and return to 
Portland from Hood River in the morning or 
early afternoon on the Oregon-Washington Rail- 
road & Navigation train. If camp is made near 
Rim Rock or at Long Prairie, considerable time 
can be spent at Rim Rock, where the best views 
of Mount Hood and the Upper Hood River Valley 
are obtained, and the descent to Mount Hood 
post office and Wood worth made in time to take 
the 1 p. m. Mount Hood Railway tram to Hood 
River and from there a late afternoon Oregon- 
Washington Railroad & Navigation train, arriving 
in Portland in the evening. 

Schedule for Three-day Trip. 

Leave Portland Union Station on the 7.30 a. m. 
Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation train 
for Hood River. Take Mount Hood Railway 
train for Parkdale, arriving about noon. Go 
from Parkdale to Sand Canyon in a light auto- 
mobile hired for the trip. Walk easterly from 
Sand Canyon over forest trail, ascending moun- 
tains to Brooks Meadows, 5 miles; thence turn 
north from Brooks Meadows over ridge-line trail 
and go to camp site at Cold Spring near Mill Creek 
buttes and Shell Rock Mountain, and camp the 
first night. 

Excellent sunset and sunrise views can be had 
from Shell Rock Mountain and Mill Creek buttes. 
Mill Creek buttes are the easiest observation 
points to climb from the camp site. In the 
morning proceed northerly over ridge-line trails 



(13) 




»»1 



Mount Hood from Elk meadows 



to Rim Rock and Long Prairie. From Long 
Prairie descend westerly over trails to Mount 
Hood post office, and spend the second night 
there. Take the early morning Mount Hood 
Railway train to Hood River, and return to Port- 
land from Hood River on the morning Oregon- 
Washington Railroad & Navigation train, arriving 
Union Station, Portland, near noon of the third 
day. The return trip to Portland from Hood 
River may be taken over the Columbia River 
highway. The Hood River Valley stages con- 
nect with the Columbia River highway stages. 
Stage fare over the Columbia River highway is 
only slightly more than railroad fare. 

The time given for the trips scheduled over 
the Elk Meadows and Lookout Mountain trail 



does not permit many stops along the way. The 
three-day schedule does not take the traveler 
either to Elk Meadows or Lookout Mountain, 
but only over the most scenic portion of the 
ridge-line trail. At least one week — if possible, 
two weeks — should be allowed to take the Elk 
Meadows and Lookout Mountain trail trip, as 
there are many places along the way where 
the traveler may wish to make a detour from the 
trail for a short time in order to climb to a pin- 
nacle of rock for the view or to explore the shores 
of a mountain lake or an inviting section of 
forest. The Elk Meadows and Lookout Mountain 
trip is recommended to all those who wish to 
spend from one to two weeks journeying in the 
woods. 



(14) 




The North Side trail to the summit from Cloud Cap Inn 



The North-side Climh of Mount Hood. 

The north-side climb of Mount Hood is made 
from Cloud Cap Inn, where climbing parties are 
organized during the season by competent 
mountain guides. Inexperienced persons should 
not attempt to climb Mount Hood without a 
guide. The ascent from the north side is the 
most difficult, and will appeal most to lovers of 
mountain climbing. Parties of men and women 
climbers, however, have climbed the mountain 
from the north side and no exceptional difficulties 
are encountered. The views of the mountain 
obtained from the Hood River Valley side are 
quite different from those of the south side, the 
cone shape of the mountain being much more 
distinct on the north side than on the south, 

183054°— 20 3 (15) 



as a result of differences in erosion and in expo- 
sure to the sun and the melting ice and snows. 

Mount Hood is climbed annually by large 
numbers of people. Mountain-climbing clubs of 
Portland make the ascent frequently with parties 
numbering as high as ioo people or more. The 
Forest Service has established a forest-fire look- 
out station on the summit, where experienced 
observers are stationed during the entire summer 
fire season. Visitors are always welcome at the 
small building on the summit of the snow-clad 
peak, and many climbers have found shelter there 
from the biting winds which sometimes blow 
across the crest of the mountain. Communica- 
tion with the Portland, Oreg., headquarters of 
the Forest Service is maintained from the summit 
of Mount Hood by means of an insulated tele- 



phone wire laid across the glaciers and snows. 
A wireless station is also being placed on the 
summit, and the heliograph is used under condi- 
tions which make that instrument practical and 
necessary. 

Schedule of Trip. 

There are two means of access to Cloud Cap 
Inn — one by rail over the Oregon-Washington 
Railroad & Navigation tracks and the other by 
automobile stage over the Columbia River high- 
way to Mount Hood lodge. The round trip can be 
made over both routes. The Oregon-Washington 
Railroad & Navigation train leaving Union Sta- 
tion, Portland, at 7.30 a. m., makes connection 
at Hood River with railway stages and train over 
the Mount Hood Railway, bringing the traveler 
to Parkdale, near Mount Hood lodge and Cloud 
Cap Inn, early in the afternoon. An evening 
train leaves Union Station at 5.30, but does not 
connect with the Mount Hood Railway stage or 
train, which leaves Hood River at 5 p. m. An 
Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation train 
leaving Union Station at 9 a. m. allows several 
hours' time in Hood River for connection with 
the 5 p. m. Mount Hood Railway stage. The 
Mount Hood stages leave the St. Charles Hotel 
at Portland in the morning about 10 o'clock, 
en route for Mount Hood Lodge and Cloud Cap 
Inn. The distance by stage is close to 100 miles. 

The South-side Climb of Mount Hood. 

The south-side climb of Mount Hood is made 
from Government Camp Hotel, where climbing 
parties are organized during the summer season 
and conducted to the summit of the mountain 
by competent mountain guides. The ascent 
from the south side is much more gradual than 
from the north. The south slopes of the moun- 
tain are exposed to the sun, and the erosion 
caused by the more rapid melting of the ice and 
snow has made the slopes longer and gentler than 



the north slopes, where the steep inclines of the 
original volcanic cone still prevail. 

Schedule of Trip. 

Government Camp Hotel, near the summit of 
the Cascades, is reached from Portland, Oreg., by 
automobile stages, which leave Portland daily at 
7.30 a. m. from the corner of Second and Alder 
Streets. The distance by stage is about 55 miles, 
the route being over the Mount Hood loop road. 
The trip can be made by train as far as Bull Run on 
the Portland Railway, Light & Power Co.'s electric 
lines. From Bull Run the remainder of the trip 
can be made on foot by those who so desire, going 
from Bull Run to the Zig Zag and Sandy River 
resorts over the Devil's Backbone road, passing 
the Marmot post office. The first night's stop 
can be made at the Aschoff Mountain Home, 
7 miles from Bull Run. The distance from the 
Aschoff Mountain Home to the Sandy and Zig 



□E 





Reaching the summit on Mount Hood 



(16), 



Zag River hotels and resorts is about 15 miles. 
The second night's stop can be made there. From 
these resorts to Government camp on the Cascade 
Mountain range it is slightly more than 10 miles. 
No visit to the Mount Hood region is complete 
without a trip to the high alpine meadow slopes 
and forest parks near snow line on Mount Hood. 
It is delightful to camp on the mountain meadow 
within sight and sound of the glaciers, close to a 
flower-bordered mountain stream fed from the 
melting snows ; and the profusion of wild-animal 
and plant life on the well-watered and sunny 
slopes of the mountain is intensely interesting to 
the student of nature. 

The Zig Zag Mountain Trail. 

Zig Zag Mountain is the most important moun- 
tain-peak point of view in the vicinity of Rowe 
post office and the neighboring forest camp 
grounds and summer resorts. The trail to the 
summit of Zig Zag Mountain is not plainly 
marked, but the mountain can be ascended with- 
out difficult}'. Beyond the Zig Zag River ranger 
station on the Mount Hood loop road Forest 
Sendee signboards indicate the crossing of the 
Zig Zag River and the beginning of the trail 
which makes the ascent of the mountain. The 
climb can be made in about three hours. The 
view from the summit of Zig Zag Mountain is 
well worth the effort, this mountain on the south 
of Mount Hood answering about the same pur- 
poses as Larch Mountain on the north. 

Schedule of Trip. 

The Zig Zag River camp grounds and mountain 
resorts are reached by automobile stages, which 
run as far as Government Camp on the Mount 
Hood loop road. The trail is accessible to the 
neighboring mountain resorts, camp grounds, 
and Forest Service summer-home sites close to 
Rowe post office and vicinity, all situated close to 
the Mount Hood loop road stage lines. The dis- 



tance to these resorts from Portland is approxi- 
mately 45 miles. The trip can be made on foot 
from Bull Run, the terminal station on the Port- 
land Railway, Light & Power Co.'s electric lines, 
by walking from Bull Run to Marmot post office 
over the Devil's Backbone and stopping the first 
night at Aschoff's Mountain Home; then pro- 
ceeding the next day to Rowe post office on the 
Zig Zag River, about 15 miles, and camping on 
the Forest Service camp grounds on Still Creek 
and the Zig Zag River, or staying at one of the 
neighboring mountain resorts. 

The Squaw Mountain Trail. 

An interesting trail trip may be made to the 
summit of Squaw Mountain, altitude 4,791 feet. 
The view of Mount Hood and the Cascade Range 
south is unusually good from the summit. Masses 
of rhododendron grow along the trail and are in 
bloom during the last weeks of May and in early 
June. The journey can be made over Portland 
Railway, Light & Power Co.'s electric lines to 
Cazadero, and thence by trail east to Squaw 
Mountain, or by auto stage to the Zig Zag River 
resorts, and thence by trail south to the summit. 
The round trip can be made going out over one 
route and returning over the other. The walk is 
about 17 miles from Estacada to Squaw Moun- 
tain; from the Zig Zag River it is slightly less 
than 17 miles. 

Schedule of Trip. 

Leave Portland on the 6.45 a. m. Portland Rail- 
way, Light & Power train from the First and 
Adler Street station for Cazadero. Walk over 
roads and trails from Cazadero to forest camp 
grounds near Squaw Mountain on the North 
Fork of the Clackamas River, about 16 miles. 
Go via Fanton's — an old landmark of this region. 
Automobiles can be obtained to go as far as Fan- 
ton's, considerably shortening the journey on 
foot. Camp can be made within a short dis- 



ci?) 



tance of the summit, enabling one to obtain 
sunrise and sunset views. Returning from Squaw 
Mountain via Cazadero, take the 4.45 p. m. 
Portland Railway, Light & Power train going to 
Portland. On Sundays only during the summer 
months there is a 6.45 p. m. train from Cazadero 
to Portland. Returning from Squaw Mountain, 
via the Zig Zag River trail, connect with Mount 
Hood loop road auto stages to Portland. 

Going to Squaw Mountain from the Zig Zag 
River, take the Mount Hood loop road auto stages 
which leave Portland from Second and Alder 
Streets at 7.30 a. m. and go to Welches, the be- 
ginning of the trail. From Welches ascend the 
Huckleberry Mountain trail. Camp on Forest 
camp grounds near Squaw Mountain. Return to 
Portland via either Welches or Cazadero. 

Forest Trails North of the Columbia River. 

Some forest trails north of the Columbia 
River, although not strictly within the Mount 
Hood region, are of such scenic interest and are 
so accessible to Portland that mention must 
be made of them. Chief of these trails are those 
going to the summit of Mount Hamilton and Bea- 
con Rock, both built by Mr. William Biddle, of 
Portland. The two trails can be covered in one 
day by vigorous walkers, climbing first Hamilton 
Mountain and then Beacon Rock before time for 
the train returning to Portland. 

Beacon Rock is a historic landmark on the 
lower Columbia River, having been noted and 
described by the explorers Lewis and Clark on 
their memorable expedition to the Pacific North- 
west, as follows: 

In the meadow to the right and some distance from the 
hills, stands a high perpendicular rock, about 800 feet 
high and 400 yards around the base; this we called the 
Beacon Rock. Just below is an Indian village of nine 
houses, situated between two small creeks. 

The traveler to-day standing on the summit 
of Beacon Rock will gaze with interest on these 
two creeks and the broad Columbia River below. 



The Hamilton Mountain trail is less than 6}i 
miles long and is built on a very good grade, 
delightfully easy to walk over, in this respect 
one of the best forest trails near Portland. The 
view from Mount Hamilton is far-reaching to the 
north and south, with the Columbia River Valley 
and the high bluffs on the south of the Columbia 
River forming the chief near-view features of 
interest. 

Schedule of Trip. 

Leave Portland from the North Bank depot 
on the 7.55 a. m. Spokane, Portland & Seattle 
Railway train, for Wahclellah Station. Walk 
east from Wahclellah Station along the railroad 
to the beginning of the Mount Hamilton trail at 
the base of Beacon Rock on the east side. Ascend 
the trail to the county road, cross the road, and 
continue over the trail to the summit of Hamilton 
Mountain. The trail passes the base of Rodney 
Falls on Hardy Creek. There is no water at the 
summit of the mountain, so canteens should be 
carried and filled at the falls or springs along the 
trail. Returning from the summit, descend to 
the beginning of the Beacon Rock trail on the 
county road. Ascend Beacon Rock trail to the 
summit of Beacon Rock and return to Wah- 
clellah Station, connecting with the 5.25 p. m. 
Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway train to 
Portland. 

Forest Camp Grounds for the Automobilist. 

The most accessible spots on the Oregon 
National Forest in the Mount Hood region are 
being improved by the Forest Service as rapidly 
as possible for use by the people as free public 
camp grounds. The Eagle Creek camp and pic- 
nic grounds, situated on the Columbia River 
highway, are accessible by automobile from 
Portland and are very popular. During the 
season of 191 9 over 150,000 people enjoyed the 
camping facilities provided there by the Forest 
Service. 



(18) 



The Eagle Creek camp grounds are equipped 
with large numbers of well-made camp dining 
tables, camp-fire cooking stoves, and running 
water, which is piped from pure mountain streams 
and springs. Two comfort stations are equipped 
with modern sanitary conveniences. On Sun- 
days and holidays large numbers of people come 
by train and in automobiles to spend the week 
end in forest surroundings, where practically 
everything has been done to make forest camping 
as convenient as possible. The camp grounds 
are 44 miles from Portland and 22 miles from 
Hood River over the Columbia River highway. 
A hard macadam road turns right from the high- 
way east of the Eagle Creek bridge. This mac- 
adam road follows the east bank of Eagle Creek 
through the Eagle Creek camp grounds and makes 
a return loop through the forest, coming out 
again to the highway, descending the hill east of 
the automobile parking space. This automobile 
parking space on the camp grounds will accommo- 
date over 500 machines, and on Sundays during 
the height of the season is taxed to its capacity. 

The camp grounds within the road loop are 
used largely for picnic dinner parties. Tables 
are placed in the most suitable spots, shaded by 
large fir trees or by groves of alders growing near 
the cool waters of Eagle Creek. Water pipes are 
placed near the groups of tables, and camp cook- 
ing stoves are within convenient reach. A small 
camping space below and north of the Columbia 
River highway is provided for transient campers 
and automobile tourists who carry their own 
tents. Space for permanent summer tent camps 
is provided on the west bank of Eagle Creek 
about one-fourth mile from the highway over 
the Eagle Creek trail. City residents establish 
their summer camps in tents and live there for 
several weeks. Eagle Creek appeals to large 
numbers of people because the Forest Service has 
sought to protect and preserve the original 
natural environment, and has succeeded to a 
very large degree. 



The Zig Zag River and Still Creek Camp 
Grounds. 

The Zig Zag River and Still Creek camp grounds 
are being developed on the Mount Hood loop 
road about 45 miles from Portland, in an environ- 
ment that is still largely in its original state 
of natural beauty. The camp-ground improve- 
ments are not so elaborate as on Eagle Creek. 
Those who wish to find a cool, shady retreat in 
the forest by the side of a mountain stream, how- 
ever, and who are content to rely largely upon 
themselves for the establishment of camp com- 
fort, will find the Zig Zag River and Still Creek 
camp grounds suited to their purpose. Thick 
groves of alder trees along the banks of the river 
and the creeks provide cool shade, and the beds of 
ferns and quantities of moss growing beneath 
the canopy of trees make a camp ground which 
is enchantingly green. There is fishing in the 
streams, and delightful forest walks can be taken 
over the neighboring forest trails. 

The trail going to the summit of Zig Zag 
Mountain is situated close to the camp grounds. 
Mail and supplies can be obtained at the Rowe 
post office, which is only a short distance from 
the camp grounds. During the summer months 
there is stage service to the camp grounds over 
the Mount Hood loop road. An excellent forest 
trail goes south and west from Welches, climbing 
Huckleberry Mountain — a point of great popular 
interest to summer visitors. A continuation of 
the same trail goes to Squaw Mountain. 

The Lost Lake Camp Grounds. 

The forest camp grounds at Lost Lake are as 
yet inaccessible to automobiles. The road to 
the lake will soon be completed, however, and the 
camp grounds will be open to automobile campers. 
Lost Lake is about 95 miles from Portland, Oreg., 
over the Columbia River highway to Hood River, 
and thence over Hood River Valley roads to Lost 
Lake. The road during the summer of 191 9 was 
completed to within about 4 miles of the lake. 



(19) 



Summer Home Sites on the Oregon National 
Forest. 

There are two delightful sections of forest in 
the Mount Hood region which have been surveyed 
and subdivided by the Forest Service for use by 
the public as building sites for the erection of 
permanent summer homes. Here one may lease 
a small but suitable building lot from the Govern- 
ment for a nominal rental and build his summer 
home. One of these summer home-site areas, 
the Zig Zag River area, is located along both 
banks of the Zig Zag River on the Mount Hood 
loop road, near the Rowe post office, about 45 
miles from Portland, Oreg. The other area is 
located on the shores of beautiful Tost Take, 
95 miles from Portland, in the heart of the 
Cascade Mountains, within but a few miles of the 
snow-clad slopes of Mount Hood. 

The Zig Zag River sites have the advantage of 
being easily accessible to Portland. With the 
improvement of the Mount Hoop loop road the 
run from Portland can be made in little more than 
two hours. Rowe post office, only a short dis- 
tance away, offers mail service and store supplies. 
Daily stages from Portland pass the area. The 
Zig Zag River lots are laid out in a long strip 
along both banks of the river. Thick groves of 
alder trees shade the banks of the stream; and 
heavy beds of ferns, moss, and forest under- 
growth make an ideal environment for a summer 
home. There is some fishing in the Zig Zag 
River and in the tributary streams. Forest 
trails lead to the surrounding mountain slopes 
and up the stream valleys. The distance to 
Government Camp near Mount Hood is about 
12 miles over the Mount Hood loop road. Several 
mountain resorts are within a short distance of 
the home-site area. 

Lost Lake, although soon to be opened for 
automobile travel, will not have regular stage 
service for some time. It is particularly desirable 
for summer homes for those who desire its 



mountain and forest privacy, far away from the 
hurried activities of the work-a-day world. The 
summer home-site area is located in a large sec- 
tion of park -like forest on the shores of the lake, 
on moderate slopes forested with large firs, 
cedars, and hemlocks, and covered with a light 
undergrowth of low-bush huckleberries, mingled 
with scattering ferns and plots of grass — a bit 
of wild woods delightful to walk through and 
explore. A sand beach on the south shore of 
Lost Lake is within very short walking distance 
of the home-site area, and a close-by stretch of 
high banks and deep water provides ample 
facilities for boat houses. On Lost Lake there are 
many opportunities for canoeing, boating, swim- 
ming, and other water sports. 

Camp Companions. 

One of the amusing and interesting phases of 
camp life is the part that wild animals play in it. 
The small chipmunk is in this respect one of the 







-J 



The hand of friendship. 



(20) 



most interesting because of his habits and 
because he is so common. The chipmunk is the 
camper's friend in supplying amusement and 
entertainment, but he collects heavy toll from 
food supplies that are kept carelessly in camp. 
His habits in stealing, however, are exemplary. 
If there are two bars of chocolate in the camp 
stores which he can reach he will usually eat or 
carry away one before touching the other, 
but a pack rat will nibble at everything within 
reach. It is surprising, nevertheless, how great 
a quantity of food a small band of enterprising 
and diligent chipmunks can damage or carry out 
of camp ; and so it should be remembered when 
making camp in the forest, miles away from a 
grocery, that deserted and still as the woods may 
appear to be, a furry band of robbers is more than 
likely lying in wait for booty, and everything 
edible had better be hung up or stowed safely 
away. 

The robbers of camps are not all of the fur- 
bearing kind. The bluejay and the dull black 
and gray bird called the "camp robber" are 
frequent visitors in camp and quite able to com- 
pete with the chipmunks in many respects. 
Chipmunks hide their stores in small holes and 
burrows in the ground, under logs, sticks, and 
stumps. The bluejay and the camp robber hide 
their spoils on the tops of snags and branches. 
Chipmunks steal even from the bluejays and camp 
robbers themselves. On one occasion while the 
bluejays and camp robbers were carrying things 
away from camp and hiding them in the trees, it 
was observed that the chipmunks deserted the 
camp and all started climbing trees. The camp 
robbers are perhaps the least timid of any of the 
camp visitors, and they wdl take bits of bread 
and food from out of the hand if their familiarity 
is at all encouraged. They are also very bold in 
carrying things away from camp, taking what 
they can in their bills or else picking it up with 
their claws. 



The chipmunks and the birds, with the excep- 
tion of the owls, are all day workers. The mice 
and the rats work at night. Of these the mice 
will rarely be noticed. Mice sometimes store 
stolen grains in boots and shoes, and campers 
spending a night in a forest cabin may find their 
missing rice in their shoes in the morning. 

The large wood rats, commonly called pack 
rats, are often the bane of the camper. These 
large rats delight in carrying off bright objects of 
metal of any sort — spoons, jewelry, tinware, and 
the like. The camper sleeping in a forest cabin 
is often awakened by these rats trying perhaps to 
drag a pan cover or even the pan across the floor, 
and making a disturbance altogether out of pro- 
portion to their size. Nothing good can be said 
about the pack rats. Saddles, bridles, and 
leather goods left lying on the ground in camp 
will be cut and ruined almost beyond repair. 
Clothing left within reach of the wood rat may be 
sadly inadequate for wear when discovered in the 
morning, and as a consequence many campers 
have come out of the woods wearing flour-sack 
and gunny-sack patches on their clothes. If 
there are wood rats about — and usually there 
are — everything in camp should be hung up out 
of reach at night. 

Skunks are night animals particularly fond of 
fish, and will be attracted to camp if parts of fish 
or meat scraps are left unburied near by. They 
are absolutely harmless if undisturbed. They 
have been known to play about the feet of camp- 
ers while feeding at night on bits of fish left from 
cleaning a catch of trout. Care must be taken, 
however, not to make a quick movement which 
might startle the animal, with perhaps serious 
consequences. 

A common bird in the woods is the little brown 
wren, which is frequently found nesting close to 
camp under logs and usually near the water. 
The Alaska robin is also one of the common birds 
whose song cheers the early morning and evening 



(21) 



hours in camp. The hoot owl is apt to remind 
the camper of his presence during the night. One 
of the most interesting birds of the region is the 
water ousel, or "dipper," whose cheery song is 
distinguished at once from all the other singers 
near the woodland camps. 

A great deal of instructive amusement can be 
had in camp by observing the behavior of the 
camp friends of the animal world. Frequent 
feeding makes them quite tame, and they be- 
come very interesting camp companions. An 
Oregon naturalist has taken motion pictures of 
chipmunks in camp, attracted within range of the 
camera by large nuts hung on strings. These 
small actors of the mountain camps provided in- 
teresting entertainment for motion-picture audi- 
ences. No true lover of the out-of-doors will 
attempt to injure any of the harmless camp 
visitors in any way. 

Equipment Necessary for Trail Walks. 

The weather conditions in the Mount Hood 
region during the summer months are not severe. 
It is not necessary to wear heavy outing clothing 
unless considerable time is spent at high alti- 
tudes, and even then while exercising during the 
day it is advisable to wear light clothing. A 
common mistake is to walk and climb too heavily 
clothed. On the other hand, it is well to carry a 
few extra articles of clothing in the pack sack for 
use in case of storm and for wear in camp and dur- 
ing rest periods. Khaki clothing is excellent for 
summer conditions where it is necessary to scram- 
ble through underbrush and thickets. Outing 
clothing made out of 1 6 or 1 8 ounce wool cloth, 
preferably forestry cloth, serves admirably for 
ordinary trail travel during winter weather. If 
no other outing clothing is available, an old cast- 
off wool suit and a pair of overalls will meet the 
situation. 

Flannel shirts are usually worn in the woods. 
Experience has shown that in cases of light sum- 



mer showers and resting after exertion flannel 
shirts are excellent to prevent chills. An old 
sweater is a great convenience in camp, can be 
carried easily in the pack-sack, and serves as a 
pillow at night. A cruiser-style overshirt, worn 
in place of a coat, is being manufactured on the 
Pacific coast and is becoming very popular with 
outing people. Made into a coat, this cruiser 
shirt answers every purpose of a man's outing 
coat, and it can also be modified to make a very 
comfortable, useful, and becoming woman's 
blouse. 

A light home-made waterproof cape, made out 
of waterproofed tent silk, and weighing not more 
than three-quarters of a pound, is most useful 
to wear over the shoulders in case of rain. A 
very suitable cape can be made out of a rectan- 
gular piece of waterproof tent silk with a slot 
opening in the center for the head. This rec- 
tangular piece of cloth can be used during the 
night as a ground cloth for the sleeping bag or 
blankets and as a rain-proof cape during the day, 
and is very practical. The rectangle measures 
about 4 by 7 feet. The standard army poncho 
and "shelter half" are heavier, but serve the 
same purpose. 

Any stout shoes will serve for walking over 
forest trails. The soles must be heavy enough 
to prevent stone bruises and to hold a few hob- 
nails, which are necessary to prevent slipping on 
steep trails. Hobnails are also very useful to 
prevent slipping while walking over down timber, 
branches, and logs. Sharp steel calks are not 
necessary, except for climbing over steep, icy 
slopes on glaciers, or in the woods where there is 
much walking over logs. A steel screw calk is 
manufactured which can be screwed into the 
leather sole for wear in the woods and can be 
easily removed at any time. A pair of mocca- 
sins can be carried easily in the pack sack during 
the day, and are a great comfort to the feet in 
the evening in camp. 



(22) 



The best camp bed for the trails is made out 
of a pure-wool comforter sewed into a sleeping 
bag, and covered with an outer bag of light drill 
or tent silk. One 3 -pound comforter is suffi- 
ciently warm for all summer conditions at low 
altitudes, and the combination of one additional 
2 -pound comforter will answer all purposes for 
use on mountain peaks above snow line. A light 
muslin lining increases the warmth of the sleep- 
ing bag, and adds greatly to its cleanliness, as 
this lining can be removed and washed. The 
lining is made by sewing a strip of muslin a yard 
wide and about 12 or 14 feet long into a bag 
to slip inside the wool-comforter sleeping bag. 
Sporting-goods stores supply an excellent light 
sleeping bag cover made out of tent silk, weighing 
less than 2 pounds. 

The most practical shelter is a light waterproof 
forester's tent or a light rectangular waterproof 
fly weighing not more than 4 or 5 pounds. Shelter 
tents large enough for two persons, and which can 
be closed completely to shut out insect pests as 
well as stormy weather, can be obtained from 
sporting -goods stores; but these are very rarely 
necessary. The rectangular fly or the forester's 
tent are the most practical shelters under almost 
all conditions encountered in this region. 

For camp use a light hunter's ax and a strong 
jackknife are necessary. Excellent camp-cook- 
ing outfits can be purchased for any sized party 
at sporting stores, but individuals can easily 
assemble their own cooking outfits by using in- 
expensive tinware good enough for camp use 
during one season. Very few dishes are neces- 
sary ; the general tendency will be toward carry- 
ing too much unnecessary equipment. An ex- 
cellent combination for small parties which can 
be obtained in the west is a set of three nesting 
tin pails, or two nesting pails and one nesting coffee 
pot. These, together with a light steel fry pan, 
tin cups, tin plates, knives, forks, and spoons, 
will serve all purposes. The army mess kit is 



used and liked by some campers. An army can- 
teen is excellent for use on mountain climbs and 
on trails away from water. 

A good compass, a waterproof matchbox, and 
a forest map are absolute necessities to be carried 
on the person at all times. A sharp knife and 
a supply of dry matches are indispensable on 
occasions too numerous to mention in the woods, 
and the map and compass are the constant com- 
panions of careful observers in forest and moun- 
tain regions, besides being a great factor of safety 
in preventing one from being lost in the woods. 
The map accompanying this folder is adequate 
for all travel on forest trails in this region. 

Climbing Mount Hood. 

Greater care must be taken in selecting the 
equipment necessary for climbing Mount Hood. 
Stout climbing shoes newly hobnailed and spiked 
with a few new and long, sharp calks are essential. 
Smoked glasses large enough to protect the 
eyes from snow glare must be worn to prevent 
snow blindness. Grease paints are used on the 
climb over the glaciers to prevent sunburn. 
A light pair of cheap canvas gloves will proiect 
the hands. Alpenstocks are necessary while 
making the snow climb. Canteens should be 
carried and a handful of raw oatmeal added to 
the water in the canteen. A small quantity 
of oatmeal water quenches the thirst and has an 
appreciable and stimulating food quality. A 
large bandana handkerchief is useful as a protec- 
tion from the sun. Liberal quantities of cold 
cream and a small hand towel are used in re- 
moving grease paint. Heavy woolen stockings 
should always be worn over cotton or silk. A 
sweater is conveniently carried in the pack sack 
while climbing, and is a protection against cold 
and chills while resting on the summit or other 
points on the climb. Fruit juices, fruits, and 
other food are carried for emergency and for re- 
freshment on the way. If the climb is made in 



(23) 



the company of a guide, his instructions and 
suggestions should always be followed. Local 
mountain-climbing clubs and other mountain- 
eering associations also instruct novices who 
accompany their parties on climbs of Mount 
Hood. Inexperienced persons should not at- 
tempt the climbing of snow-clad peaks without 
guides or without the leadership of experienced 
mountaineers. 

Below is a list of the clothing and equipment 
usually worn on the forest trails in the Mount 
Hood region: 

i . On the person : 

Soft-felt hat or crusher. 

Cruiser coat or shirt (water-repellant duck or 

forestry cloth). 
Flannel shirt. 

Medium-weight cotton underwear. 
Breeches (water-repellant duck or forestry cloth). 
Heavy wool socks over silk or cotton. 
Outing boots, hobnails. 
Bandana handkerchief. 
Note book and pencil. 
Radiolite watch. 
Jackknife. 

Waterproof matchbox. 
Pocket compass. 
Camera. 
Forest guide folder and map. 

2. In the pack sack: 

Forester's tent or fly. 

Waterproof cape, poncho, or shelter-half. 

Sleeping bag. 

Cooking kit. 

Food supplies. 

Camp ax. 

Pair moccasins. 

Sweater. 

Extra socks, handkerchiefs. 

Bath towel. 

Dish towel. 

Toilet articles. 

All the short-trail trips described in this 
folder are made on foot, the necessary supplies 
and equipment being carried in a pack sack. 



Camp equipment and supplies to last one week 
can be carried in a pack sack and the heaviest 
packs in the party should not weigh more than 
60 pounds. The packs of the women members 
of the party should not weigh more than 35 
pounds. The packs gradually become lighter 
as the journey approaches its close. Practically 
all of the longer trail journeys can be made 
without pack-horses or saddle horses. 

Those who feel themselves to be too inexperi- 
enced or unable to lead an independent life in 
the woods can secure pack and saddle horses. 
The packer accompanying the horses will serve as 
guide, usually being well acquainted with the 
country. One pack horse will carry about 150 
to 175 pounds weight. If horses are not avail- 
able, men accustomed to the work of packing can 
sometimes be secured locally to carry the heavy 
pack sacks over the trails. An experienced packer 
can carry a pack sack of about 75 pounds. A 
packer able to act also as a guide and cook is a 
find, and worthy of his hire. 

These trail descriptions give practically all of 
the routine information necessary for making any 
of the trail journeys outlined. The few sugges- 
tions on clothing and camping equipment and 
camping methods have been found practical in 
this region. The forest map shows all the roads 
and forest trails open for the recreation and 
pleasure of the public. Campers should remem- 
ber also that they are not isolated in the woods 
while on or near the forest trails. Forest rangers 
and forest guards are always keeping the trails 
under observation, and it usually happens that 
their direction and help can be obtained in cases 
of emergency. 

There is one element of danger in the public 
enjoyment of the mountains and forests, and that 
is the grave danger, imminent at all times during 
the summer, from forest fires. A cigarette stub, 
the glowing spark from an unextinguished cigar, 
or a carelessly thrown match may start a small 



(24) 



fire in the woods which will soon grow to immense 
proportions. Hundreds of people have lost their 
lives, homes and forest settlements have been 
destroyed, and millions of acres of forest have 
been laid waste by forest fires which have had 
their beginning in carelessness with fire in or near 
the forest. Safety from the danger of forest fires 
is only possible through the carefulness and cease- 
less vigilance of every individual. The careful- 
ness of one person in the beginning is more im- 



portant and effective forest-fire protection than 
the combined efforts of hundreds of men fighting 
a large forest fire. The safest protection from 
forest fires is habitual carefulness. The punish- 
ment of careless persons can never restore lost 
lives, burned forests, and the shaded greenwood 
trails. Everyone going into the forest is there- 
fore cautioned to observe the following rules of 
good woodsmanship, and to be careful always in 
the use of fire : 




Matches. — Be sure your match is out. Break 
it in two before you throw it away. 

Smokers. — Throw pipe ashes and cigar or cigar- 
rette stubs in the dust of the road or trail and 
stamp them out. Do not toss cigar and cigarette 
stubs to the side of the car. 

Making Camp. — Build a small camp fire. 
Build it in the open, never against a tree or log. 
Scrape away the trash from all around it. 



Leaving Camp. — Never leave a camp fire, even 
for a short time. When leaving camp extinguish 
every spark of it with water or dirt. Be sure that 
the camp fire is completely out before leav- 
ing it. 

Fighting Fires. — If you find a fire try to put 
it out. If you can't, get word at once to the 
nearest forest ranger or fire warden. Keep in 
touch with the rangers. 



ALWAYS BE CAREFUL WITH FIRE 

KEEP THE STREAMS PURE 

KEEP A GLEAN GAMP 



Take as good care of the forests as you do of your own home. Do your share in keeping 
them attractive. Damage to the forests means loss to everyone. 



(25) 



Food Supplies Suitable for the Trails. 

On all trips under three days in length many 
standard groceries can be carried, such as fresh 
bread and other baked goods, package groceries, 
canned goods in tins or even glass, fresh meat and 
eggs, condensed soups, etc. On long trail trips> 
however, foods must be selected with care in 
order to keep the packs from being too heavy. 
Experience in the woods has proved the value of 
the following list of foods, and it is given for the 
benefit of those to whom the selection of foods 
for such a trail journey may be a new experience : 

Foods Suitable for a Long Stay in the Woods. 



Hard-tack biscuits. 


Coffee. 


Pea-meal biscuits. 


Sugar. 


Flour. 


Salt. 


Pancake flour. 


Pepper. 


Cracked wheat. 




Cereals. 


Bacon. 




Butter. 


Dehydrated soups. 


Cheese. 


Dehydrated eggs. 


Fats. 


Milk powder. 


Oils. 


Dried pitted prunes. 


Beans. 


Dried black figs. 


Rice. 


Dried apples. 


Split peas. 


Dried apricots. 




Raisins. 


Shelled nuts. 




Peanuts. 


Bar chocolate. 


Almonds. 


Chocolate nut bars. 


Walnuts. 


Malted-milk tablets. 


Pecans. 




Nut butter. 


Chocolate. 




Cocoa. 


Condensed n 


Tea. 





A mixture of coarsely ground whole wheat, 
nuts, and raisins makes a most nourishing and 
compact food to be carried in the woods. With 
thick condensed milk it is a most wholesome and 
appetizing dish, and can be eaten without cook- 
ing. 



Rice is one of the mos't sustaining foods which 
can be taken, and can be eaten for extended 
periods of time without palling on the taste. 
Experienced woodsmen have a great preference 
for rice. The best quality unpolished rice should 
be selected. 

Flour, bacon, salt, sugar, prunes, dried apples, 
rice, and beans are the standard necessities of the 
prospector, miner, hunter, and trapper. 

Coffee should be ground, or some of the many 
brands of soluble coffees may be used. 

The National Forest. 

A National Forest is a large Government-owned 
timber farm, in charge of a forest supervisor, who 
may be likened to a farm superintendent, and 
who has for his foremen several district forest 
rangers, each one in charge of large subdivisions 
of the immense timbered domain included within 
the boundaries of the forest. A National Forest 
often contains more than a million acres — a 
tract of land which inclosed in a rectangle would 
measure about 60 miles long and almost 40 miles 
wide. There are 154 National Forests in the 
United States and Alaska. 

The growing stands of timber are carefully 
managed by the Forest Service so as to insure the 
the largest possible mature timber crop perpet- 
ually to the Nation. The most important work 
in timber farming is to protect the growing forests 
from fire. On several of the high mountain peaks 
of the Oregon National Forest there are small 
lookout houses, where men are stationed at all 
times during the summer fire season to watch 
constantly over all parts of the forest for the first 
signs of smoke which indicate the forest fire. 
Telephone lines enable the observer to communi- 
cate with the district forest ranger or the forest 
supervisor in case a forest fire is discovered, and 
fire-fighting crews are dispatched at once to the 
scene of the fire as soon as it is reported by the 



(26) 






OK 



I 1 




183054° — 20. (To face page 26.) 



. "-, 



MAP OF 
THE 

MT MOOD REGION 

OREGON NATIONAL FOREST 
OREGON 

LEGEND 

— -—— County Boundary 

■ National Forest boundary 

— •-— Boundary of Bull Run division 
.i«««»wv»w.v» Boundaryof Columbia Gorge Park 

-"■■ Roads 

Proposed Road 



FirstClass Trail 

Second Class Trail 

■ — Telephone Line 

tTrian^ula+.on Station 
Ranger Station 
■&■ Campgrounds 

*. Hotel 

L. Stores 

Ferry 

Summer Home Sites 
Scale 





On the Oregon National Forest 



lookout men. In each lookout station there are 
instruments for accurately locating fires. In 
addition to the lookout men, the district forest 
ranger employs forest fire guards who patrol the 
forest trails during the fire season. It is their 
work to discover all camp fires which may have 
been left unextinguished, to put them out, and to 
arrest the careless campers. 

Fire fighting is not the only work the forest 
ranger has to do. The district forest ranger 
must superintend the construction of forest roads 
and trails, and the building of telephone lines, 
bridges, and ranger-station buildings. He must 
administer Government sales of timber and the 
leasing of water-power and grazing privileges. 
Ripe stands of timber are selected and sold by 
the Government to the highest bidder. The 
timber is sold and marked and scaled by the 
forest ranger, and the timber crop is removed so 
as to favor as much as possible the growth of 
another crop of timber. 

Timber is only one, however, of the many crops 
raised on a National Forest, although it is one of 
the most important. Large sections of the 
National Forest suitable for the grazing of cattle 
and sheep must be personally examined by the 



forest ranger. Annual permits are granted to 
stock owners, who are required to limit their 
herds and flocks to the number which the grazing 
areas can best carry; and such grazing rules and 
regulations are laid down as will best insure the 
restocking of the mountain pastures with grasses 
and forage cover for the ensuing seasons. Thus 
the National Forests grow annually a large crop 
of beef, mutton, wool, and hides. 

The pure mountain water supply of many cities 
is drawn from the National Forests. A large 
portion of the Oregon National Forest is used for 
no other purpose than to insure a perpetual sup- 
ply of pure mountain drinking water to the city 
of Portland. This section of the Forest is known 
as the Bull Run Reserve, and includes the entire 
watershed of the Bull Run River. The watershed 
is closed to the public, and no timber cutting, 
grazing, or other forest use is allowed. A staff 
of forest guards patrol the watershed district, 
protecting it from fire. 

Electric power is also generated on many 
National Forests, where large areas of rocky 
mountain slopes, covered with heavy forest, feed 
mountain waterfalls which generate the elec- 
tricity supplying cities with light and power. 



(27) 



These water-power sites on the National Forests 
are leased by the Government to companies. 
Stretches of National Forest are recognized as 
being chiefly valuable for outdoor recreation, and 
forest lands of this type are set aside to be used 
entirely as recreation areas. The Columbia 
Gorge Park division of the Oregon National 
Forest is forest land of this kind. 

A Short Key to the Forest Trees. 

In the following check list of forest trees it is 
purposed to describe the forest trees of this region 
in the fewest possible words in order to bring it 
within the limited space available. No attempt 
is made to present an elaborate key or give de- 
tailed descriptions. Its greatest use will be to 
give the forest traveler a few hints which will help 
him to identify at least some of the forest trees 
growing along the trails and in the forested parts 
of the Mount Hood region. 

The pines have long needles, which are always 
borne in bundles, never more than five needles 
in a bundle. The larches have short needles in 
clusters or tufts, up to 30 or more needles in one 
cluster. The hemlocks, firs, and spruces all have 
short needles, which do not grow in bundles but 
are scattered singly along the twigs. In the case 
of the hemlocks the needles are soft, fiat, and 
round at the ends and arranged only on the sides 
of the twig, making a flat spray; with the true 
firs the needles are flat and notched at the ends, 



and on account of a twist around the twig appear 
to be distributed on its upper half. In the case 
of the spruces the needles are stiff and sharp 
pointed, prickly to the touch, and distributed all 
around the twig. 

The needles of Douglas fir, which is not true 
fir, are sharp pointed, but not stiff or prickly. 
The best way to distinguish this tree, however, is 
by its cones, which have peculiar three-pointed 
bracts or leaf -like scales protruding from between 
the regular scales. 

The foliage of cedars is not made up of needles, 
but of very small leaf-scales, which clasp the twig 
closely. It should be stated also that although 
the yew is an evergreen tree with needles some- 
what similar to hemlock, it is not a conifer, since 
it bears characteristic red berry-like fruits in 
place of cones. 

The user of this key should keep in mind that 
a short description can not cover the wide varia- 
tions that are bound to occur in trees of the same 
species due to difference in age, size, and habitat. 
Lengths of needles and cones may be found to 
vary quite considerably from the average dimen- 
sions given in this description. In all cases the 
descriptions here given are aimed to fit the typical 
mature trees. It should also be borne in mind 
that timber-line trees occur not only as the last 
outposts of tree growth where they are short and 
stunted, but also grow down the slopes several 
thousand feet lower, where they mingle with 
other trees and have a respectable form and size. 



(28) 




FOREST TREES OF THE MOUNT HOOD REGION. 




SOFTWOOD SPECIES. 
THE CONIFERS. 

Family CONIFERS. 

PINES (Pinus). 

Western white pine (Pinus monlicola). 
Cylindrical trunk, clear of branches; bark (on trees 
over i foot in diameter) broken into small hexagonal 
blocks; needles, five in a bundle 4 inches long. 
Occasional tree at 1,000 to 4,000 feet elevation. 

White bark pine (Pinus albicaulis). 
Low, long-branched, twisted, crooked trunk; needles 
five in a bundle 2 inches long. A timber-line tree 
growing on the highest timbered elevations in the 
Mount Hood region. 

WESTERN YELLOW pine (Pinus ponderosa). 

Straight trunk, broad crown, heavy foliage; bark of 
old trees dull orange-yellow, broken into large irreg- 
ular plates; needles three in a bundle 7 inches long. 
On the Columbia River east from Bonneville. East 
of the Cascades up to 5,000 feet. 

LodgEPOLE PINE (Pinus coniorta). 
Small tree, occurring often in dense stands. Slender, 
dense-grown stems were used by the Indians for tent 
poles, hence the name. Thin, scaly bark, needles 
two in a bundle 2 inches long. North side of Mount 
Hood, 3,100 to 5,000 feet. On south side from Gov- 
ernment Camp to 1,700 feet near Tollgate and at the 
mouth of the Sandy River. 

LARCHES (Larix). 

Western larch (Larix occidentalis) . 

Tapering trunk, open crown, foliage appears very scant. 
Needles 1 inch, 14 to 30 in a cluster, turn yellow 
and fall from tree in autumn. Only cone-bearing 
tree in this region which loses its leaves in the fall. 
On northeast and south sides of Mount Hood. 

SPRUCES (Picea). 

EnglEmann spruce (Picea engelmanni). 
Straight, narrow, pyramidal crown; bark of trunk scaly; 
needles arranged singly on the twig, stiff, sharp- 
pointed, prickly. On Mount Hood 3,000 to 6,000 
feet, Badger Lake, and Brooks Meadow. 



HEMLOCKS (Tsuga). 

WESTERN HEMLOCK (Tsuga heteropkylla). 

Becomes large forest tree, clean, smooth, tapering trunk. 
Lower foliage in delicate , flat sprays, tip of tree always 
bent over, terminal branchlets always drooping; nee- 
dles flat, round tipped, half-inch long, dark green 
above, silvery underneath. Cones three-quarters 
inch long. Throughout the Mount Hood region up 
to 5,500 feet in moist situations. 

Mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana). 

Short alpine tree to timber line ; trunk sharply tapering ; 
needles densely clustered in star-like arrangement 
on the twig, not in flat sprays. Cones 2 inches long. 
Both slopes of the Cascade 5,500 to 7,000 feet. Tim- 
ber line on Mount Hood. 

DOUGLAS FIR (Pseudotsuga). 

Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga taxifolia). 
The common large forest tree of this region. Thick 
brown bark with broad ridges and deep furrows; 
needles soft, pointed, but not prickly; cones about 3 
inches long, with three-pointed, leaf-like scales pro- 
truding from between the cone scales. Throughout 
the Mount Hood region to 6,000 feet, north side of 
Hood to 3,800 feet, on south side up to Government 
Camp. 

FIRS (Abies). 

Alpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa). 

The common fir of the timber line. Long, narrow, con- 
ical crown, terminating in a conspicuous spirelike 
point. North side of Mount Hood from 3,700 feet to 
timber line. South side from timber line to Govern- 
ment Camp. 

Lowland white fir (Abies grandis). 

Fair-sized tree; bark ashy gray in young tree, smooth 
like alder bark; in old trees broken into narrow ridges 
and furrows. Needles broad, flat, grooved, and 
notched at the tip. Lustrous dark green above, sil- 
very below. Bark of young twigs distinctly greenish 
yellow. L° wer slopes of Mount Hood. General up 
to 4,000 feet. 



(29) 



Silver fir (Abies amabilis). 
Handsome tree with conspicuously smooth light gray 
bark. Smooth on trees under 2 feet in diameter, 
broken into wide ashy plates on larger trees. North 
side of Mount Hood, 3,700 feet to timber line, south- 
west side from near Government Camp to timber 
line, 2,000 to 5,500 feet in the Cascades. 

Noble fir (Abies nobilis). 

Magnificent forest tree. Tall and symmetrical, with 
a noticeably clear and straight trunk, bark broken by 
narrow furrows into conspicuously flat and smooth 
plates which are of a purplish color. North side of 
Mount Hood at 4,500 feet, on south side from 3 miles 
below Government Camp upward. Abundant on 
Larch Mountain, where this tree is wrongly called 
larch. 

ARBORVIT^S (Thuja). 

Western RED cedar (Thuja plicata). 

Large tree. Usually swell-butted, with tapering 
trunk and drooping branches. Thin, stringy, choco- 
late brown bark. Foliage not needles, but scales clasp- 
ing the twigs, in flat sprays. Both sides of the Cascades, 
north side of Mount Hood, from 1,700 feet down to 
the Columbia River, on south side of Mount Hood 
from Government Camp to Salmon post office . Usu- 
ally found in bottoms, along streams, and moist situ- 
ations generally. 

CEDARS (Chaimscyparis). 

Alaska cedar (Chameecyparis noolkaiensis) . 

Tree somewhat like western red cedar with rapidly 
tapering trunk, but leaf scales finer and sprays more 
delicate. Sprays are harsh to the touch, while those 
of red cedar are soft. Branches conspicuously droop- 
ing. Foliage when crushed has strong, somewhat 
offensive odor. On Mount Hood near Government 
Camp and on north side. 

JUNIPERS (JunipErus). 

Dwarf juniper (Juniperus communis). 

Always a shrub in this region. Needles very short 
and sharp pointed ; fruit a dry, aromatic berry, blue- 
black when ripe . On ridge tops and summits of the 
Cascades. On north side of Mount Hood at 6, 500 feet. 
Abundant on Mount Chinidere. 

Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis). 

Short tree, rarely over 60 feet high, ordinarily 15 to 
20 feet. East of the Cascades to 6,000 feet, on dry 
arid exposed places. 



THE YEWS. 

Family TAXACE/K (not cone-bearing). 

Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia). 

This is the only species of yew which is native to 
the Northwest. Small tree, rarely 60 feet high, grow- 
ing under others in the forest. Barkthin, smooth, and 
conspicuously purplish red; young twigs same color, 
green as the pointed needles. Foliage somewhat 
similar to hemlock, but coarser and not so droopy. 
Fruit bright coral-red berries ripening in September. 
West side of Cascades to 6,000 feet; near margins of 
streams and on moist flats. 

HARDWOODS OR DECIDUOUS TREES. 
THE WILLOWS. 

Family SALICACE^. 

WILLOWS (Salix). 

There are several species of willows in the Mount 
Hood region, distributed from the sand bars along the 
Columbia River to the headwaters and upper courses 
of high mountain streams, but they are so difficult 
to distinguish that a key to the willows can not be 
given, nor would it be useful in a popular description 
of this kind. 

COTTONWOODS AND POPLARS (Populus). 

Aspen (Populus tremuloides). 

Small tree, commonly 30 to 40 feet. Bark whitish, 
leaves small, somewhat heart-shaped, with stem flat- 
tened at base of leaf; foliage always trembling in the 
breeze. Usually occurs with Douglas fir, western 
yellow pine, and lodgepole pine east of the Cascades. 

Black Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa). 

Large tree. Gray bark, having sharply defined 
ridges and furrows. Glossy large leaves turning con- 
spicuous yellow in autumn. On both sides of the 
Cascades at lower levels. It is the common tree of 
river bottoms, sand bars, and river banks. 

THE BIRCHES. 

Family BETULACE^E. 

BIRCHES (Betulus). 

Mountain birch (Betulus fonlinalis). 

Slender, graceful tree with deep, shiny old-copper- 
colored bark. Locally noted in Columbia River Val- 
ley. 



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ALDERS (Alnus). 

White alder (Alnus rhombifolia). 

Distinguished from red alder by having conspicu- 
ously scaly brown bark. Leaves with fine-toothed 
wavy borders. On eastern slopes of the Cascades in 
moist situation. 

Mountain alder [Alnus tenuifolia). 

Commonly with slender bent stems up to 15 feet 
high in dense thickets. Leaves doubly toothed, with 
fine teeth on the coarser teeth . On heads of mountain 
streams, springy slopes, borders of high meadows, and 
lakes. 

RED alder (Alnus oregona). 
Large alder, 60 to 90 feet high, thin smooth bark, light 
ashy gray. Leaves more regularly toothed and coarser 
than other alder trees. Undersurface of leaf coated 
with rust-colored hairs. Borders of streams and on 
moist bottoms. 

THE NUT-BEARING TREES. 

Family CUPULIFER/E. 

CHINQUAPINS (Castanopsis). 

Western chinquapin (Castanopsis chrysophylla). 
An evergreen, broad-leaf, shrubby tree, with thick 
leathery leaves, shiny green above and brownish 
yellow tint underneath. Fruit a nut inclosed in a 
burr similar to the chestnut. Valley of the Columbia 
River and on Mount Hood. 

OAKS (Quercus). 

Oregon oak (Quercus garryana). 
A small tree, the only oak in this region. On high 
mountain slopes a small shrubby tree. Chiefly in 
the Willamette River Valley, on west slopes of Cas- 
cades to 3 ,000 feet, and up into lower growth of yellow 
pine on each side. On north and northeast slopes of 
Mount Hood. 

THE ROSE FAMILY. 

Family ROSACE/E. 

SERVICE BERRIES (Amelanchier). 

Western service BERRY (Amelanchier alnifolia). 

Tall, slender-stemmed shrub 8 to 10 feet high. White 
flowers, blue-black sweetish edible fruit. The 
earliest white-flowering shrub in the woods. Gen- 
erally distributed. 



HAWS (Crataegus). 

Black haw (Crataegus douglasii). 

Low, much-branched shrub, sometimes a tree 20 to 30 
feet high. Black or black-purple, shiny, sweet, 
edible fruit. Branches with a few thorns, not very 
sharp. Foliage bright red in autumn. On borders 
and bottoms in vicinity of lower mountain streams. 

CHERRIES AND PLUMS (Prunus). 

Bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata). 

From a slender, much-branched shrub to a tree 35 to 40 
feet high. Mature fruit clear coral red, extremely 
bitter. In woods at lower elevations. 
Western choke cherry (Prunus demissa). 

Commonly a treelike shrub. Bruised twigs and leaves 
have strong scent like peach pits. Mature fruit 
blue-black color. Chiefly east of Cascades; on arid 
parts west on lowest mountain slopes. 

THE MAPLES. 

Family ACERACE^E. 

MAPLES (Acer). 

BroadlEaF maple (Acer macrophyllum) . 
Only large tree maple on Pacific coast. Mature leaves 
of unmistakable large size, 6 to 12 inches across. 
Wholly on west side of Cascades on borders of foothills 
and low mountain streams. 

Vine MAPLE (Acer circinatum). 

Often of a sprawling, crooked, vinelike appearance, 
shrublike. Bark smooth and greenish. Leaves with 
seven pointed lobes which in the fall turn to brilliant 
red and yellow tints and form the most prominent 
autumn coloring of this region. Occurs very com- 
monly. 

Dwarf maple (Acer glabrum). 

Small-stemmed shrub 4 to 6 feet high; rarely a 
tree. Bark smooth and red-brown with grayish cast. 
Leaves with three coarsely toothed lobes. Occurs 
but rarely. 

THE BUCKTHORNS. 

Family RHAMNACE/E. 

BUCKTHORNS (Rhamnus). 

CaSCAra (Rhamnus purshiana). 

Varies from small tree to slender-stemmed shrub. 
Bark bitter, medicinal. Leaves blunt, oval, deeply 
ribbed with straight parallel veins. Usually an 
undergrowth on low river bottoms. 



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THE DOGWOODS. 

Family CORNACE.E. 

DOGWOODS (Cornus). 

Western dogwood (Cornus nuttalli). 

Small tree, usually growing under other trees. 
Leaves broad, pointed, oval, ribbed with curved 
parallel veins. Large, showy white flowers. On low 
bottoms, the lower gentle mountain slopes, and along 
mountain streams. 

THE HEATH FAMILY. 

Family ERICACE/E. 

MADRONAS (Arbutus). 

Madrona (Arbutus menziesii). 

Tree frequently low and shrubby, with conspicu- 
ous, smooth red-brown bark which often peels off in 
thin, irregular flakes, red branches, evergreen leaves, 
and bright coral-red berries. Along rivers. Occur- 
rence rare in this region. 



THE OLIVE FAMILY. 

Family OLEACEjE. 

ASHES (Fraxinus). 

Oregon ash (Fraxinus oregona). 

A tree usually of the swamps. Reaches 60 to 75 
feet in height. Bark in fine ridges and furrows. 
Leaf compound, having five to seven leaflets. Seeds 
winged at one end. Western part of Cascades in 
valleys. 

THE HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY 

Family CAPRIFOUACE/E. 

ELDERBERRIES (Sambucus). 

Blue ELDERBERRY (Sambucus glauca). 

Usually a many -stemmed shrub; rarely a tree 15 
to 20 feet high. Compound leaves and pale bluish 
berries. Bottoms of canyons, valleys, slopes of 
mountain streams, and moist hillsides. 




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